Penn looked like the team to beat at the start of the season, but it came crashing back to earth last Saturday at Yale in a 35-13 loss.
The Quakers (4-2, 2-1 Ivy) are looking to bounce back against Brown (3-3, 0-3) this Friday at 7 p.m. at Franklin Field. Although the Quakers showed some signs of spark against the Bulldogs last week with a few successful throws downfield, penalties killed any sign of momentum they had.
“Those are things that we have to clean up,” coach Ray Priore said. “Penalties, those are about discipline [not] being fundamentally sound in there and not buying into the talk and the chatter.”
On top of penalties, Penn failed to establish its run game outside of senior quarterback Liam O’Brien, who averaged just 2.0 yards per carry throughout the game. Heading into the matchup against Brown this Friday, Penn is looking to get back on track.
“Every game is important,” Priore said. “This game is real, real important for us to get back on the winning track, become three-and-one in the league, and then really control what we control.”
The last time the two schools faced off, the game turned out to be a shootout, featuring a combined 507 yards and four touchdown passes from the quarterbacks. Despite his outstanding outing against Brown last year and the game being his first victory as a starting quarterback, O’Brien is not dwelling on the past.
“New year, different team. [We] just got to stick to the game plan [and] go out and execute what [offensive coordinator Greg] Chimera has in store,” O’Brien said. “[I] trust my guys and the talent that we have in the room to make the place for me.”
This year, the Bears also look like a completely different team. With new quarterback James Murphy at the helm, Brown is coming off a losing weekend where Murphy threw for 471 yards. The Quakers hope to find a win on Friday, with the Quakers’ backfield adopting the “next-man-up” mentality.
“We got a great bond in the running back room,” senior running back Julien Stokes said in September. “We all help each other with the routes [and] the footwork. Everybody’s supportive of each other, and when you have a group like that, it just makes it so much easier when you step onto the field knowing that your guys have your back and you know what you’re doing out there.”
RELATED:
Guevarra | Penn football needs to fix its run game now
Turnovers and penalties propel Penn football’s blowout loss at Yale
Now is the moment for the Quakers to step up. With Stokes likely out for the remainder of the season with a fibula injury, it is up to sophomore running back Donte West and junior running back Sean Williams Jr. to pick it up and keep the offense rolling.
“Coach talks about next-man mentality, just keeping the same mindset [and] attacking practice. It starts in practice. … Coach Chimera, he put trust in everybody in the room like me,” West said.
Penn football will be staying at home as it faces off against Brown underneath the Friday night lights. The game will kick off at 7 p.m. on Oct. 31 and will be streamed on ESPNU.
